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Membership, governance, and lobbying in standard-setting organizations

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  • Fiedler, Clemens
  • Larrain, Maria
  • Prüfer, Jens

Abstract

Standard-setting organizations (SSOs) are collectively self-governed industry associations, formed by innovators and implementers. They are a key organizational form to agree on and manage technical standards, and form the foundation for many technological and economic sectors. We develop a model of endogeneous SSO participation that highlights different incentives for joining (namely licensing, learning, and implementation). We analyze equilibrium selection and conduct comparative statics for a policy parameter that is related to implementer-friendly Intellectual Property Rights policies, or alternatively, minimum viable implementation. The results can reconcile existing evidence, including that many SSO member firms are small. The extent of statutory participation of implementers in SSO control has an inverted U-shape effect on industry profits and welfare.

Suggested Citation

  • Fiedler, Clemens & Larrain, Maria & Prüfer, Jens, 2023. "Membership, governance, and lobbying in standard-setting organizations," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(6).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:respol:v:52:y:2023:i:6:s0048733323000458
    DOI: 10.1016/j.respol.2023.104761
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Standard-setting organizations; Associations; Governance; Lobbying; Membership;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D71 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Social Choice; Clubs; Committees; Associations
    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • L15 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Information and Product Quality
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives

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